Alternate ending:

Some years of bringing about came over them. Banner went back to India, Barton and Natasha pursued their work at S.H.I.E.L.D., Thor and his brother returned to their home far away and Steve built up a new life nearby the Stark Tower.

Tony whereas worked on his issues like the alcoholism. Pepper was proud he went through this hard work on himself for their family. One day Rogers came to the tower and asked Pepper:

'Where's Stark?'

'He might be in the shop. If he isn't there, he could be on the party deck, I guess', she answered smiling while tidying up the living-room.

Immediately Steve went to the intercom, pushed a button and said: 'Hey, Tony. Where are you?'

His child could see Tony starting to smile, when he heard Steve operating the intercom.

'We are here and there. Always changing our position!', Steve could hear a young voice talking.

'Well then tell me where you are right now. I wanted to visit you.'

'Shop', the answer was.

Steve moved down and went towards them. Tony started cleaning his hands with a cloth and stood up. While passing him, Steve stroked over Edward's head. The boy grinned at both, when Tony fell into Steve's arms.

'Haven't seen you for a long time, Cap.'

'Just last week', Steve laughed.

'Really? Oh, wow. Lost sense of time I think.'

Steve stepped back again and replied:

'Banner is going to show up tomorrow I've heard.'

Tony smirked.

'Yes, heard that, too. Looking forward to it.'

'Are you missing him?'

'I'm missing you all', Tony told him and went to the machine he was working on again, 'Every minute you aren't here.'

'You have got better things to do than being sad about our absence, Stark.'

'I know. Think I do a really good job at the moment', Tony responded.

Thereon Steve turned to the boy and asked:
'Is your dad cool to you, Edward?'

'He's cool to everybody!', Edward shouted.

'What about your sister?'

'Don't know. She's offended, because she isn't allowed to work with us!'

Steve looked at Tony.

'Why didn't you bring along your girl? This waitress from the shawarma shop...', Tony skipped.

'She has to work. And why-'

'Haven't eaten shawarma for a long time, should do that again', with these words Stark went to the door, 'Want a drink?'

Steve shook his head a little bit and followed him. Tony watched Pepper picking up toys from the bottom of the living-room, when he sat down on the couch.

'Why doesn't she do it by herself?', he asked dissatisfied.

Pepper took a deep breath.

'She was crying when she ran to her room. Do you really think she's going to come out and take her stuff, risking to meet you?'

Steve sat down next to Stark and mentioned:

'Good job, huh?'

'I know what I'm doing, Cap. Don't worry', Tony took a bottle from beneath the table and placed it and a glass on the tabletop.

'Also drinking again?', Steve was clearly shocked.

'Yea. You know I learned something about myself: It's always just about limit. I'm able to control myself in that point, so why not?'

Stark noticed Steve seemed to be a little bit disappointed. Then Mary walked in and ran to Steve.

'Hey, gorgeous!', the man immediately shouted and lifted her up, 'How are you?'

She didn't answer and buried her face in his shoulder.

'Still angry with me?', Tony said and stroked her curled brown hair.

'Don't touch me, you're mean!', she screamed and pushed herself against Steve.

Tony just grinned and nipped from his glass.

'Calm down', Steve said and pushed her away a bit to look her in the eye, 'I like you most, when you're smiling.'

Softly he whisked of tears from her cheek and looked in her green, sad eyes.

'I'll go and wash my face', she said admiring the super-soldier, 'Then I'll come back to smile for you!'

Tony laughed when his daughter walked out gracefully.

'Why isn't she allowed to help you like Edward does?', Steve asked and watched Tony going over to the window.

'Got other plans for her. She's to pretty to be down in the shop all the time as I am.'

His voice contended pride. There seemed to be a plan behind it.

'One time she is ready to distinguish between justice and injustice. She'll right with everything she's going through. Trust me, I know what I'm doing.'

'You want her to take the sui-'

'Are you crazy?', Stark asked and turned to Steve again, 'When I'm gone, there won't be any need of Iron Man or the Avengers anymore. The world will be fine then...'

'Uncle Steve, would you go to the playground with us?', Edward complained when he came in.

'Don't your parents do that with you?', Steve asked surprised.

'Mum does. Dad's working too much', Mary told him after returning.

'Good job', Steve repeated ironically.

Being sure that he was doing right, Tony smiled again. When Steve agreed and told the children to dress, Tony blinked one eye and grinned at Mary. Although she didn't want to, she started smiling at him, but she actually was too proud to show him, so she turned around and went to the elevator. After the three left the room, Tony ran to Pepper, clasped her in his arms strongly and said:

'Let's make out.'

In response Pepper giggled, pushed him away and lay one finger on his lips to hamper him from talking.

'You can be SO romantic, honey, but...No.'

'Didn't expect anything different.'

She kissed him shortly.

'Now go and do that hard work, that's holding you back from playing with your kids.'

Tony lifted his head higher and asked:

'Has that been a taunt?'

'You better go noooow', Pepper replied while leaving.

In the evening Tony walked in Mary's room to say good night. She already lay in her bed and read. Carefully Tony lay down next to her and looked at the pages.

'What are you reading?', he asked.

Mary moved away from him a little bit and responded:

'A book Steve gave me. He liked it and he thought I could like it, too.'
'You're six years old and he hands you a book he likes? I mean he's much older than you, do you even understand what is said there...Wait, we're talking about Steve. Okay, you might understand it', Tony laughed.

His daughter on the other hand wasn't amused of that.

'He isn't stupid, daddy! Not everyone can be such a dumbass genius like you are!'

'Stop offending me. Come on, don't be angry anymore', Stark moved closer to her, 'Have I told you, that I love you today?'

Suddenly Mary closed the book and placed it on her little bedside cabinet. Then she snuggled up to her father and closed her eyes. Gently Tony stroked her head and watched her fall asleep.

'Never stop banking on your abilities...', he then whispered and slid out of the bed carefully, so he didn't wake her up.

'I don't know. His behavior is really strange. But as you know Tony, you can guess, he wouldn't tell me what's wrong anyway', Stark heard Pepper tell Steve in the living-room.

'What do you mean, when you say 'strange'?', Rogers asked back.

His face had a concerned expression, when Tony peeked into the room, keeping silence.

'Weakening slightly. And every time he does and I see it, he walks away. I haven't courage to follow him then, to ask what's wrong. I'm afraid it's about the reactor and therefore his heart again', Pepper continued and offered Steve a glass of water.

After that Tony entered the room, started grinning affected and meant:

'Kids are sleeping, finished work for today, may I have a drink now?', he turned his head to Steve, when he stood before the bar, 'Just if you don't mind of course.'

'Go ahead', Steve replied and shook his head slowly.

Pepper stood up and walked to the door.

'I'll be right back', she said and closed the door behind her.

Tony on the other hand, let himself fall down on the couch and took a nip from his glass.

'Are you alright?', Steve meant and looked at his friend.

'I'm fine.'

'Are you sure?', the soldier added, noticing Tony shortly looked at his chest, before he drank from the glass again.

'What do you want to hear, Steve?', Tony replied and turned his upper body to the man, sitting next to him, 'Do you want to hear, I'm feeling bad? Do you want to hear, I'm afraid of dying? Do you want to hear there are not many days left, I can make use of, before I have to leave?'

'Are these questions or a statement?'

Steve's face became even more concerned.

'I said: I am fine', Tony repeated, stood up and went to the door, just when Pepper came back.

Questioning she looked at him, whereupon he explain, he had forgotten to do an important thing. As he passed her, Pepper and Steve stared at each other, while she was wondering, which 'thing' her partner in life has meant.

'It's like our start', Rogers suddenly laughed, 'Every time we're talking to each other, we start to argue about anything.'

'He walked away. I guess, you confronted him with what I've told you?'

'Actually I just asked once more, how he's doing.'

'Strange behavior, you see?'
While Steve tried to blow their cobwebs away, down in the shop J.A.R.V.I.S mentioned:

'Sir, I'd really advise to tell Miss Potts about the-'

'You would? Lucky you, that you won't, right?', Stark interrupted the computer and checked up the inner photographies of his chest.

'The blood sample doesn't look promising. Also the tissue around the reactor seem to come up with the chronic infection. Additionally the magnet can't hold the splinters from the cardiac septum anymore, it just slows down the process.'

'So?'

'Pressure could cause the intrusion of the splinters, which means-'
'I know, what that means, thank you. MUTE!', Tony meant, when he heard the door opening.

'Daddy?', Mary asked quietly and trudged into the room.

She hold her cuddly blanket in one hand, dragging it over the ground while walking over to her father.

'Why aren't you sleeping?', Stark asked and took her up, then set her down on his lap.

'I felt cold and then I saw, you were gone and there was a depressing feeling about this. So I stood up to look for you.', she answered sleepy, pressing her back against Tony's body.

Immediately the father felt sick. Even if he nearly wasn't able to speak, he tried to calm her down:

'Once I will be gone. Physically. I'll stay inside of your heart, unless you release me. So if you don't want me to...there's no way, I'd ever leave you.'

His bleating confused the girl. She raised her head, pressing it against Tony's chest and replied:

'Daddy?'

Tony rubbed his eyes to hide his tears from her and said:

'Yes, that's me.'

'I love you.'

Sleepy she lowered her head again, cuddled her blanket and closed her eyes. Then Tony stood up carefully to carry her back to her bed.

'But there's no god. So there are no souls. How can you stay then?', she muttered.

Tony didn't reply anything, so she fell asleep once more. In a quiet and careful way, he put her into her bed again, carpeted her. Silently took another look at her. Then he went out. Steve watched him closing the door, staring on the ground.

'I'm going to leave for today', the soldier said, not moving from the tile, he was standing on.

Not responding Tony went over, wrapped his arms around the obviously now confused man, and gave him a strong squeeze, asking:

'Have I ever told you, that I love you, man?'

'And you are fine, right?', Steve answered a little bit angry, but put his arms around Tony, who released him quickly again.

'Yea, I'm fine. But you never know, when it's too late to let people know those things.'

A few seconds after Tony has scrutinized Steve's expression, he added:

'Stop looking so confused. I've grown up and I know how to let others know about my feelings. Why can't you just be happy about it?'

His laughter made Steve even more angry. Without changing his facial expression, he replied:

'I am', and left Stark standing in the corridor.

The next day, early in the morning, Edward came to his parents' bedroom and jumped on the bed.

'Wake up! C'mon, wake up! They're almost there!'

Bad-tempered Tony opened his eyes and grabbed Edwards leg, whereupon the boy fell down laughing onto the mattress. On Pepper's side. Where she wasn't lying.

'Where's your mother?', the man asked and put a pillow on his face.

'She was cleaning. And now we're are waiting for you! We already had breakfast and...I'm still hungry. But-'

'Do me a favor and don't stress me. Go out, I'll follow in a few minutes.'

As Edward wanted to agree to Tony's appeal and grabbed the pillow, he felt wetness and meant:

'Yuck! What's that?'

'Edward, get out', Stark repeated, whereon Edward jumped up and went out.

Slowly Tony whisked off the remaining sweat from his forehead and staggered into the bathroom. He took out some medications, antagonising the infection and the shaking of his limbs. As he came to the living-room a few minutes later, he heard Pepper say:

'Usually he's the first one being on his feet.'

'And exactly today, he's late!'

Tony laughed, when he recognised that shouting towards him came from Banner.

'I AM not even late. You haven't told us, when you'd arrive, so...'

Nodding Bruce stood up and went to him. The moment, when Tony hold his hand towards the doctor, this grabbed the hand, pulled Tony closer and hugged him. Surprised Tony lay his hands onto Banner's back and looked at Steve, who was sitting on the couch and meant:

'I've let him know, you're finally able to show other people, how you feel.'

'I haven't said, how I felt about Bruce', Tony laughed, actually depressed, and clapped on the doctor's back, until he released the scientist.

'How are you doing?', Bruce asked kindly and took a short look at Stark's bodily conditions.

Before he answered, Tony moved over to the bar, got a drink, then said in return:

'I'm okay. Felt a little bit dizzy, after Edward shook the whole bed, I was lying in, with his trampoline-action.'

Really quiet Pepper clicked her tongue, went to her boyfriend and took the glass off Tony's hand, before he could kiss the cup.

'Consult your watch', she mentioned and stroked his chin gently.

Annoyed by her control-compulsion, that was, what he liked to call it, Tony got to the couch and let himself fall down. Absent-minded he watched the sun edging through the heavy cloud cover. Just in that moment Mary climbed on the couch and took a seat next to her father. She started talking, what pulled Stark out of his reverie.

'And I think, it would look awesome on the suits.'

'Sorry, sweetie?', Tony responded, then he looked down to her hands.

Mary was holding a blue-coloured cloth bandage. Reserved Tony took it and meant:

'The suits aren't Christmas trees, you know? And blue? Pardon, but blue?'

The girl fluffed her cheeks and replied:

'I like blue! And if you don't want it, give it back!'

She held her arm in direction of the bandage, but Stark raised his arm, so she had to stand up, tried to grab the bandage, unfortunately still couldn't reach it. By lifting her arms and tiptoeing, her shirt rucked up, whereupon Tony puffed on her stomach. The vibration and the sound made her and Edward laugh out loudly. Immediately the boy also jumped on the couch. Then he jumped on Tony's shoulder, desperately trying to get the bandage with one hand, without falling down, so adhering to Stark's shoulder with the other hand.

'I hate you! Why are you that tall?!', Mary shouted laughing and observed Edward, until she grabbed Tony's arm and tried to pull it down. A little bit shocked she looked at her father's face, as she noticed, she was hanging in the air and Tony's arm wasn't moving.

'It's not about size. My advantage is: I'm Iron Man. And you're not!'

With these words Stark carefully got rid of his children, stood up, then ran away holding the bandage in his hand in triumph. Smiling to himself Bruce watched the kids running after their father, sliding with their socks on the slippery tiles. When Tony turned around, he shortly saw Mary whispering into Edward's ear. The boy made a dart for his father. As the man wanted to run away again, Edward suddenly fell down, face ahead onto the ground. Shocked Tony ran to him, squatted down and asked:

'Are you okay!?'

Worried Steve stood up to have a better view. Suddenly Mary jumped onto Tony's back, clinging on his shoulders and took the bandage. As Edward lifted his head, his nose was bleeding, but he meant:

'Totally worth it!', after he has seen Mary holding the bandage.

Tony set on a poker face and looked at Pepper, Steve and Bruce. The doctor couldn't hold it and sank down by laughing so badly. Proudly Mary slid down from Stark's back and stalked over to Steve, showed him the bandage and climbed on the couch.

'Advantage: Mary', the captain said and sat down again, grinning at her.

'I let her win, that's all', Tony replied and stood up.

'US!', Edward demanded, whereon his father meant:

'Yea. Of course. How could I forget about that. C'mon, Sunshine.'
He lifted Edward up, left the room and headed to a bathroom to clean his face.

'Actually I don't see, what you meant, when you said 'bad mood'', Bruce mentioned, as he was able to stop laughing.

Steve looked at Pepper, who replied:
'I don't know what it is, but I guess he's feeling safer, when you're around.'

Later the kids decided to involve Banner into a painting lesson on the living-room's floor. While Bruce was more reluctant, as the children started to fight about the colours they needed to finish their pictures, Tony checked up some data shortly. He noticed a strange access in the shop, so he went down. Turning on the lights and scrutinizing the room, he couldn't see anything unusual. Until he walked over to the suits. The Mark VII, the suit he used to use at the moment, had a blue bandage around its wrist. Tony lowered his head, smiled to himself and wanted to leave the shop quietly. Then he found Pepper standing behind him, looking up into his eyes, as he turned around. Wordless she wrapped her arms around him, leaning her head on his shoulder, whereas he leaned his head against hers. After a while Tony felt her hands sliding down his back. Sliding up again, stopping on his shoulder blades.

'Come on, Iron Dad', she then whispered, 'Swing your sexy butt up to your guests again. Forget about the suits for one single day.'

'Sexy butt? Do you really think, they're interested in my butt?', Tony laughed and moved a little backwards, without releasing her.

'I don't care, but I want to see it up there', she answered and bit on her underlip.

'Interesting, because every time, I try to-'

'Get up!'

'Yes, sir.'

Shaking his behind while walking, Tony moved to the door. Giggling Pepper followed him. Returning to the living-room she added:

'I don't know, honey, but anyhow you're even more sexy, when you stop making any noise.'

'These are words, I clearly didn't want to hear, actually', they suddenly heard a well-known voice say.

Clint and Natasha sat next to Steve and looked to the door.

'Is this open day?', Tony replied to the male agent.

'We're glad to see you, too, Stark', Romanoff laughed.

'Only the thunderstorm is missing now.'

Almost hoping Tony looked out of the window and searched for the clouds, the sun has dislodged already. Then he turned to the others and shouted:

'WHAT THE FUCK!?'

Shocked Pepper stared at Tony. Tony stared at Bruce. Bruce stared at Edward, who painted the doctor's face.

'Son!?', Tony added, which was why Edward looked up wondering.

'What? He didn't want to hulk out, so I had to paint his skin green. It's cooler! You wanted all of them to be here, didn't you? So here we have the S.H.I.E.L.D-agents, the captain, you, Hulk', the boy pointed at Bruce's face, then grabbed his hands and lifted them, 'And here's Bruce. Unfortunately I can't invoke the Thunderman...'

Unbelieving Stark facepalmed and murmured anything.

'Tony?', Steve asked interested.

'Huh? Well...Nothing. There are just times, I wonder, what's just wrong with this boy.'
'You mean, except from the fact, that he's your son?', Clint replied.

'Ha, ha. Laughing my ass off. Seriously, what happened to The Avengers?'

'That's easy!', Steve shouted, 'They've become...Uh...Parentagers.'

'That's not even a word', Tony responded.

Rolling his eyes, Barton turned his head to Rogers and meant:

'Hasn't changed at all.'

'In his defence: He's the only one, who has kids', Natasha said smiling.

Then the children ran out, having Banner on their tail, acting as if the Hulk would try to catch them. After they had left, Tony told them:
'I didn't knew about the first one, as you might remember and the second one was a...actually more an accident, than anything else.'

'This wasn't nice', Steve replied and looked down.

'It isn't my job to be nice. My job is it, to be honest.'

'To start my statement, I'm going to quote you: There are times, I wonder...if you want us to hate you', Clint responded seriously.

'Why? I haven't said, they're not the best, that could ever have happened to me and I haven't said I don't love them, either. Just told you the facts.'
'Would you mind, stopping your conversation right on th-', Pepper started, but Steve interrupted:

'To be honest? As you are referring to yourself?'

'-is point?'

'Why are you coming up with this again!?'

Tony's voice became louder.

'Because you're saying the one thing and acting differently from what you've said before!'

'Guys, you're rude.'

'No', Clint told Natasha, 'Let them. I'm really into this conversation.'

As Steve stood up, Tony suddenly felt pressed and left the room. Without caution or rethinking, Rogers followed him and grabbed his arm.

'Promise me something!', Tony shouted, before he dared to look at Steve, who released him immediately, 'Promise to care about them, once I'm gone!'

Subsequently Steve was sure about, what he was worrying. Silently he stared at Stark, who desperately waited for an answer. The father clenched his teeth, grabbed Steve's collar and pushed him against the wall, still staring into his eyes.

'Promise it! You have to!', he ordered whispering.

Totally serious the leader stared back into Stark's eyes.

'Promise it!'

Slowly Tony lowered his head and leaned it slightly against Steve's chest, biting on his underlip, holding back tears.

'Promise', Steve responded, not moving, not averting his gaze from him.

After a while the muscle tension drained away, but instead of branching off as well, Steve wrapped his arms around Tony once more and pressed him against his own body. Confused Mary and Edward, silently waiting at a corner at one end of the floor, observed the happenings, until Bruce found them and growled. Laughing the kids ran away, which made Steve and Tony step back from each other, before the kids passed them. As Banner followed them, he decided not to ask about what the two men were doing. The moment Tony started rubbing his eyes, Steve spoke:

'Stark?'

'No, don't. Just don't', was his answer, 'I don't want any advices or questions. The only thing I'm thinking about for years is, what happens to them, when I'm gone. Gods, aliens, monsters, super-soldiers...I'm not a man for that. I'm fucking afraid, because I couldn't do anything. I'm-'
'Protecting, what's important to you, worked pretty good the whole time. Where's the problem?'

'For which cost? Pepper has been right, when she once said, she's afraid of me losing my life in those actions. Even if their a part of me, even if I'm able to fight next to those gods and monsters against our enemies, Steve...It's killing me.'

Shortly Steve scrutinized the arc-reactor, then moved his eyes up to Stark's eyes again.

'I haven't really cared about my health. I was busy by fighting the past. And now, where I could think about it, it's almost too late. And there are other things, that keep me busy.'

'As long as you have friends like us, you don't need to be worried about your family, I still don't see the problem', Steve meant arrogantly, 'If you need time, take your time. The only thing, you always need to do is telling us. Telling us about your issues, your concerns...'

The tone in Steve's voice, this conviction, made him smile after all. After Steve told him to enjoy his life, like he has used to, they returned to the living-room. Bruce was washing his face with a wet cloth. While Edward introduced his favourite cuddle toy to Clint and Natasha, Mary carefully looked at her father and tried to figure out, what Steve and he have meant in their conversation. Realizing the girl was watching him, caught Tony's attention. He looked back and smiled softly, whereupon she ran over to him, smiled back and lifted her arms. Tony took her on his arms, gave her a kiss on the cheek and took a seat on the armchair. Sitting on his lap, Mary grabbed Tony's hands and kept herself busy by moving his fingers the way she wanted. She felt comfortable as she felt his arms over her shoulders and watched him surrounding her hands with his, stroking her palms with his thumbs. Then Pepper lay her arms over Tony's shoulders from behind and watched the sitters' hands.

'This is exactly like the good old times', Clint then mentioned, 'But with some special additions.'

He looked at Edward, who was pretending the cuddle toy was alive and dancing on his legs.

'It's destiny', Steve reckoned and leaned back against the wall.

'Do you know, what your destiny will be today honey?', Pepper whispered into Tony's ear, who widened his eyes and shook his head, 'I haven't banked on Natasha and Clint, so you'll go to a discounter and you will buy some stuff, we'll need additionally.'

'Oh, no. Can't we just order that stuff online? I don't want to go to a discounter, buying stuff like ordinary people would. I hate it to be nor-'

'But it's sounds like a great idea. Let's all go there', Natasha suggested, 'So Clint and I can collect the stuff, we'd like to have-'

'-And Stark pays', Clint added and grinned at the host.

Tony grinned ironically and shook his head again.

'Yes', his girlfriend decided and walked away determining.

'This is a conspiracy.'

'What does that mean?', Edward meant and looked at Clint.

'It means everybody is mean to your dad and he isn't able to do anything about it.'

'Ha ha!', the boy shouted and jumped up, 'I'm conspiracing you!'

'Conspiring...', Stark replied and rubbed his eyes with one hand.

'I'm conspiring you!'

'Still not quite right, but it's okay.'

'It would be 'conspiring against you', Eddie', Mary suddenly explained.

Both, Tony and Edward looked at her. Natasha, sitting between Barton and Banner, whispered something only they could hear, whereupon both changed glances between Mary and Tony and then Edward. As Tony took a look on his watch, he put Mary down from his lap and stood up with the words:

'Well, let's get the shopping over and done with.'

'Look closely', Natasha added quietly and nodded towards Tony, who was about to leave the room.

His daughter followed him in the same posture, whereas Edward slid from the couch, ran after them and shouted:

'Can I get a new toy there!?'

When the rest followed slowly, they saw Pepper handing a shopping list to Tony, who perused it. But Potts ripped it off again and meant:

'You know what? You're not going to get the right things anyway. I'm coming with you.'

'Are you trying to blame me?', Tony responded, 'Conspiracy. I told you!'

The man looked down to Mary, who just giggled and ran to the elevator on the hallway. Waiting for the door to close, Edward excited pressed the button to get the elevator down – the only button he was able to reach. Down in the lobby Pepper hasted around to check if she has forgotten anything, before they left. During this Edward attempt to put on his shoes.

'Pull yourself together, soldier!', Steve called, went down on his haunches and helped the boy to lace up the shoes.

Edward chewed on the strap of his pullover's hood. Relieved by watching them Tony took a deep breath.

'Wherever Steve is going to go with, I'm with him!', Mary shouted and ran to the door.

'If he hadn't a girlfriend, I'd really start to be worried', Tony mentioned, when Pepper grabbed his hand and followed their daughter out of the tower.

'She's six, Tony...', Pepper answered and headed to the car.

'I know how old she is!'

'You neeeever knoooooow', Clint said, shaking his hand as if he was weighing the truth content in Stark's statement.

'Stop bullying me!'

Barton just laughed and entered their car with Banner and Natasha. The relieved feeling disappeared slowly, when Edward stood on going with the Hulk. The only thing Tony really wanted in this moment was, that he's the only hero to his children. Instead they admired everybody, but him. Considering this, it came to his mind it might be a little egoistic. It really was, wasn't it? Tony couldn't help, but nevertheless he was a bit disappointed. While Bruce strapped Edward in, Stark nagged about the driver-seat's position:
'Seriously, how are you able to operate this car, sitting like this?'

'Just set it up the way you need to and start the motor', Steve meant, before Pepper could explain herself.

Intentionally Mary sat down next to Steve in the middle of the back seat and leaned her head against his arm.

'No remarks from the peanut gallery', Tony laughed and started the motor, 'Vroom, vroooom!'

'So, Miss Potts, what is it like to have three kids at home?', Steve asked with a provoking expression on his face.

'Exhausting', she just giggled.

When they arrived at the discounter, parked the cars and left them, Edward immediately ran over to the shopping trolleys and jumped from one leg on the other, impatiently waiting for his father to unchain it. After Tony has done, the boy jumped on the lower tray and leaned his back against Tony's legs.

'Yea. That's not working', Tony said, as he started walking, pushing his knees against Edward's back again and again.

'Ooooow...'

Sulking Edward dismounted, walked to the other end of the trolley and pulled it, to 'help' Tony moving it. Annoyed by entering the discounter, Stark followed the focussed Pepper slowly. While she was collecting the needful things, Edward turned right into a different passage. Interested Tony followed him. First just with his eyes, then he moved towards him.

'Were are you going?', he asked.

After he has said that, Edward turned around quickly and held a model aeroplane towards his father. Tony looked at the cardboard box and shook his head.

'But it's the newest! I need it!', the boy yelled.

'I said no.'

'You haven't said anything, you've shaken your head!'

'That means no.'

'Please!'

'No.'

'But I neeeeeeeeeeeed dis!'

Tony narrowed his eyes to slits and replied:

'Speak clearly.'

'I need this...', Edward repeated, more carefully speaking.

Clint watched them from the end of the corridor and called:

'That coming from an ugly American! Is your way of expression so much better?'

Basically Edward hasn't even understood, what Clint was talking about, but he nodded approving. Then he left the toy-passage again, as he heard Pepper calling for Tony.

'I'll build it then. And I'm going to steal your tools for it!', the child yelled, walking backwards in his mother's direction.

'Have fun', Tony laughed and followed snugly.

'In your shop.'

'You won't do anything without me in the shop.'

'With or without your permission and you can't do anything! Mwahahahaha!'

'Anything else, you're dreaming of?', Stark continued laughing.

'A pony! Say a pony, Eddie!'

Steve, holding Mary's hand, looked at her and laughed shortly.

'I want candy, mum!'

'Don't eat the fucking candy!', Barton suddenly shouted. Edward, Tony and Pepper stared at him quietly.

Clint's cheeks blushed a bit, he turned his head away and whispered:

'Sorry. Just came to my mind...'

'Anyone here, who isn't weird, please lift your hand', Natasha exclaimed, whereupon Steve, Mary and Pepper lifted one of their hands.

Concentrated Banner turned the corner, staring at the first page of a book, which he was carrying. Not realizing the way he was going, he bumped against the trolley and looked up.

'Have I ever mentioned, I love this comedy of the situations we're always in?', Tony asked and looked around into the smirking faces of his friends.

Silently Bruce checked his purse. Suddenly Tony took the book out of his hands and threw it into the trolley. The more they resided in the shop, the quieter Tony became. He was sauntering behind Pepper, while the children ran around the adults. Recognising his pale face at the cash desk, Pepper went over to him, lay her hand on his neck and whispered:

'Are you all right?'

Still quiet Tony just nodded. Carefully Pepper took away her hand again and added:

'Have you just taken a shower or is it cold sweat?'

'I'm okay.'

The noise of the cash desk made him nervous. He squint his eyes when they headed to the exit. Right before the doors opened, Tony heard his daughter say:

'Daddy?', then he lost it.

He fell down, couldn't hold anymore. No chance to control his weakened body. No chance to hang on to anything or anyone. Next up he felt the cold floor on the back of his hands. The lights started hurting in his eyes, so he closed them. Breathing became harder and faster. Everything went quickly: Pepper's hand on his cheek, her concerned voice, Bruce's tries to keep him awake, the noise of an ambulance, Mary's hand at his belt, when the ambulance services raised him on a litter.

'Don't take him away!', she yelled, but the men transported Stark into the car.

Her mother took a seat next to Tony and continued talking to him, but got no reaction.

'Daddy?', Mary asked once more, whereon Tony lifted his head and looked at her tear-stained face, before the doors closed and he lost his power to hold his head again.

Later he opened his eyes and found himself in a hospital room. Carefully he looked around and recognised Natasha and Clint, who were sitting next to his bed.

'Where-'

'You are in hospital, the kids are at home with Banner and Steve and Miss Potts is waiting for the doctor on the corridor', Hawkeye let him know.

Wordless Stark scrutinized the drug infusion, the tubes and the vein catheters.

'Well, Mister Stark', a strange voice began, so Tony looked to the door, where a coated-man came through, 'Your body fell into a state of shock from the infection, you're carrying.'

'An infection?', Pepper sounded shocked and turned to the lying man, 'An infection!?'

'Look, I haven't known myself. I took some medications, when I felt dizzy, but-'

'Funny that you've taken exactly the right one against infections, instead of a medicine for dizziness', the doctor mentioned, 'Additionally we've found pain medication in your blood. Any other tablets, we should know about?'

'Check up the alcohol concentration in his blood!'

Natasha rolled his eyes and looked at the other agent.

'Alcohol after taking those tablets? Are you insane?'

'Still uncertain. Am I allowed to go home?', Tony asked and sat up.

'We can't coerce you, but I advice you to stay this night, so we-'

'Nope, thank you.'

'Tony!', Pepper's voice sounded even more scared than before, 'If you-'

'No, stop.'

'But they-'

'Stop it. I wanna go home and that's it. I'm okay again. Give me more medications and in a few days, I'm fit again. Sure, I've seen better days', Tony stood up and changed his clothes, 'But...I'm going to fix it. Trust me, I know exactly, what I'm doing.'

Unbelieving Natasha shook her head, as she watched Stark staggering to the door.

'If you want to get home, you'll have to walk. I won't let you get into the car. Make your choice: Stay here for the night and I'm going to fetch you tomorrow or...take a walk.'

Slowly Tony turned around again and looked at Pepper's purposeful face. He bit on his lip to stop himself from saying something. Then he took a short break, contemplated and meant:

'May I talk to you for a minute?'

Pepper walked over to him and stopped close to him and looked up. By courtesy the agents and the doctor looked away.

'Listen, I don't like anyone, but you, touching me. That's why I'm avoiding to get ill. I don't-'

'Do you think, I didn't know that?', she hissed back whispering.

'- want anybody...Well, but if you've known it already, why would you-'

'I won't take you home today. End of discussion. If he says-'

'- let me...Pepper, I really don't like it. I hate it, so to speak.'

'- you need to stay the night, then...Well, that isn't my problem.'

Rolling his eyes Tony put his hands into his pockets, to show her his dislike having her closer to him in that moment. She on the other side just sighed, lay her hands onto his cheeks gently and whispered:

'If you don't want to do it for me, do it for the little ones. Do you want them to see you sink down like that once more?'

Stark lowered his head. Yet he heard her talking, but his own thoughts started to become louder and louder.

'Tony...Please...', she added.

As there was not reaction from her partner, she kissed him slowly and gave Natasha and Clint the sign to follow her out of the room. Once again Tony looked back and watched them turning the corner.

'When is he coming back, mommy?', Edward later asked, sitting at the dinner-table, picking at his food.

'Tomorrow, honey. Thank you', she answered and applied to Bruce, who handed her the basket of bread.

'I don't like peas...', the boy replied, still picking.

'You haven't ate them at lunch. Please don't start a discussion.'

'A discussion?', Clint laughed, 'He's four and you would discuss?'

Stressed Pepper sighed again countered:

'Tony's about five in his head, too, sometimes. Nevertheless I have to discuss with him. Anything to add?'

Clint apologised, what made Pepper feel bad about her reaction. Concerned she stood up.

'Excuse me...'

Against all helplessness, Steve risked to follow her. He found her leaning at a wall on the corridor. Seeing him made her smile a bit.

'Hey...', she meant with a shaking voice.

Keeping silence Steve placed himself next to her and waited. Staring at Tony and keeping silence, worked to make him speak after all. Why shouldn't it work with Miss Potts, he thought and looked at her sympathetically.

'I hate those situations', here we go, 'There's anything on his heart and he's struggling against letting me know. Today there's more to care about and he can't see. I need to know about his problems, so that I can help him figure it out, so he can help me raise our children...'

'I don't know him the way you do, Ma'am. But I'm pretty sure, it's true when he says, he knows, what he is doing. He has lain emphasis on the fact, that he's always telling the truth. I for one count on his words.'

Pepper smiled again, took a deep breath and returned to the dinner-table. As she left Mary's room later on, after he has bid her good night, she heard Edward speaking loudly in his room. Slowly Pepper opened the door and looked inside. Edward was sitting on his blanket, his tablet leaning against the wall, which showed Tony sitting in his hospital room.

'And as I told you...', the boy started and hanged down over the edge of the bed and pulled something out under it.

He held a self-made replication of the model aeroplane into the tablet's camera.

'Oh. So, have you stolen my tools?', Pepper heard Tony ask.

'Yes!', Edward answered, sounding proudly.

'And against my will, you have built that in the shop?'

'No...', now he sounded disappointed, 'Because you've forbidden...'

'That's right. However it worked, didn't it? You mother doesn't want you to stay in the shop all the time anyway, so...Oh, look how comes into your room.'

Shocked Edward turned his head and watched Pepper sitting down on the bed's edge slowly.

'I wanted him to sleep...', she said and looked at the tablet to look Tony in the eye.

'Yap, I've told him so. But he has said, he has been too excited to sleep, so he had to show me his creation. Have you already shown it to her?', Tony replied, then looked through the camera to Edward.

The child shook his head. After that he handed Pepper the model.

'Wow', she responded and smiled.

'Look at that, genius! She's never that impressed, when I show her my new stuff...'

Arrogantly she turned her head to the tablet and answered:

'That's because your new stuff, actually isn't new. It's always about the suits.'

'But there are innovations!'

'Yea...whatever', she replied, but smiled at him.

Depressed he smirked back. Then he meant:

'Well, buddy...Now that I've seen it, would you go to bed then?'

'Ooooow...'

'C'mon Edward, I'm going to come back tomorrow and if you want to play, you should collect energy!'

The boy set on an 'Are-you-kidding-me?'-face, knowing Tony has been the one, who got winded quickly. Tony's grin transformed itself from depressed to embarrassed, because Edwards has noticed, it wasn't a good argument. Nevertheless Edward waved into the camera, Tony waved back. After he shut the call, Pepper lay the tablet onto Edward's bedside locker, carpeted him again, gave him a soft kiss and left the room.

The next day Tony ran through the hospital impatiently. He knew the medical outcome now. J.A.R.V.I.S has told him before, but the doctor confirmed it. In that moment he only wanted to get home. But he had to wait. Wait for the Okay to go home harmless. Being safe from collapsing once more. All the passing employees made him even more nervous. He returned to his room, sat down at the table in front of the window, looked out for a moment, then took out his Stark phone.

Natasha opened the door carefully and took a look inside. She heard a well-known voice say:

'Why haven't ya told anyone? Isn't dis important for your family to know? Why haven't you cared about it, before it was too late!?'

'I...I tried. There simply was no moment, in which I could have told her. I've waited for the right moment...'

'Stark, there is no right moment in telling your beloved, you're probably goin-'

'Hang on a sec', Tony interrupted Fury, when he noticed Natasha and Clint standing in the door, 'Well, you know about it now. I guess, I'm going to be fetched. See you.'

He replaced and looked at the agents.

'Ready?'

Tony nodded towards the direction behind them, where a doctor tried to get in.

'So?', Tony asked and stood up.

'Well, Mister Stark...You got better very quickly, so you could-''
'All right', Tony interrupted him, took the rest of his stuff and jostled through the three persons.

When he left the hospital, Tony took a deep breath.

'Ah! New York's smog in the morning. Best thing ever. By the way', he turned to the agents, 'Why hasn't Pepper fetched me? I mean...she said, she would.'

'She had to care for some phone calls', Natasha answered, 'She's still the CEO of Stark Industries, remember? Rest of the time she's a mother.'

That mother-thing. It was an excuse for everything. Once Tony has tried to justify his work on the suits, the child-protecting-father-argument didn't weigh. Stark nodded and headed to Barton's car. He sat down on the back seat and looked out of the window. Silently Clint and Natasha looked at each other, then at Tony. Obviously they were clueless as they saw in him, he still felt pretty bad.

'Miss Potts told us, we should tell you, if you feel ready to leave the hospital, you are also able to fetch your girl from school.'

The houses, the cars, the signs – everything passed Tony by. He heard somebody calling his name.

'Stark?', Natasha repeated once again.

'Huh? Yea.'

Through the driving mirror Natasha watched Tony turning off his Stark Phone. He found it awkward to beg for a repetition of her words, but he couldn't figure out, what she has been saying. His thoughts were too loud. The image of the doctor, standing in front of him, turning into a judge, passing judgement on Stark. The faces of his laughing children revolving around him. Their voices, the softness of their skin. The warmness of their bodies, when they came to cuddle with him. Their sharpness, their apprehension, endurance. Suddenly it occurred to Tony:

Finally he understood his father's words to hundred percent.

'My greatest creation', he spoke to himself.

'What?', Clint replied.

Seeing the tower, made Tony almost jump out of the car. Clint couldn't stop the car completely, when he exited it and ran into the Stark Tower.

'Welcome home, Sir', Tony heard J.A.R.V.I.S say, as he entered the elevator.

'Where are the kids?'

'The boy is playing in the living-room, watched by Doctor Banner. The girl is still at school, Sir.'

'Tell him to get down. My son, not Banner.'

It took a few minutes, then Edward came into the shop. Usually he was happy to see his dad, but the fact this called him to come to the shop, made him feel uncomfortable. The boy tried hardly to remember, if he had broken anything down there and hasn't told his parents. Carefully he came closer step-by-step. The moment when he saw Tony smile at him, he increased his speed and ran into his arms. A little bit surprised Tony laughed and heaved him up, turned around shortly to make him lose momentum.

Later Pepper entered the shop, too. She saw Tony standing behind Edward, holding his arm. Around the boy's arm she detected some cables. On his palm lay one of the armour's repulsors.

'Get ready...', Tony whispered, whereupon Edward constricted the muscles in his arm, 'GO!'

The repulsor-power, that came out, hit the target in front of them, which Tony has placed there.

'Ouch...It hurt a little in my arm', Edward meant and looked to the side, noticing Pepper.

'Yea, that's because you have to get stronger. Then it-'

'Haven't I told you, I don't want them to learn about it?'

Slowly Tony turned his head and saw Pepper's concerned glance. Carefully he took away the machine part from Edward's arm, but Pepper left the shop, without adding anything. Stark ran after her and said:

'Where have you been the whole time? I could have told you, if you had time!'

'What about your daughter?', Pepper asked and went up the stairs.

'Huh? What do you mean?'

She sighed and entered the quarter-floor. Getting into the living-room, she said:

'Haven't you told him to fetch Mary from school?'

Wondering Clint and Natasha looked at her and meant:

'Yes, we have.'

'Oh...Shit', Tony responded and searched his keys.

'I already did, don't worry. But by the way: Why is your phone turned off? She has tried to get you on it, but she hasn't got a response.'

' By the way: Why haven't you fetched me from hospital? You told me, you would', Tony answered annoyed.

Unbelieving she looked at him, while Edward sneaked towards the on the couch sitting adults. The girl stopped at the corridor, when she saw her parents standing in the door of the living-room. Disappointed she lowered her head, after she has looked at her father.

'I'm still CEO of Stark Industries, honey', Pepper answered, ironically underling the nickname.

'Yes, already heard that.'

'And I am a mother.'

Stark rolled his eyes and sighed.

'Where's time for Pepper then? You're a mother. Gotcha. But you need time to be Pepper as well...'

'It really would help, when you'd finally be ready to give up on your problems and help me then! There is simply no time for 'Pepper', if I haven't got time, because of children, jumping around me, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week!', she shouted, which was why Mary sneaked into the living-room, too.

Looking for protection she hid behind Bruce, standing before the table, watching the situation.

'Why don't you just take your time? What's so difficult about it?'

'How can anybody be so egoistic!?'

'Well, sometimes you have to-'

Pepper freaked out, when she heard Tony saying this. With all her might she slapped his face. Shocked everyone stared at Pepper.

'Look at them!', she continued and looked into Tony's shocked face, 'Look at them!'

Slowly he averted his gaze from her and looked at the kids, staring at their parents with big eyes.

'And now tell me once more, I should take my time, leaving them alone, so I would have time to myself.'

Angrily she passed him, adding:

'I'm already sorry, because I may have hurt you, but today you clearly got carried away.'

This was ridiculous. As if he wouldn't have done everything for his children. As if he would ever leave them high and dry. As if he has been such a bad father, like she was implying. Being hurt Stark moved away from the living-room and backtracked in their bedroom.

The next hours her behaviour towards the others in the living-room, lifted the spirits again. Then when Tony entered the room carefully, Edward jumped around his father.

'Daddy, look!'

But Stark didn't react. He observed Pepper walking around the table. She out down Steve's glass, which this has approached her for, then she realised Tony's arrogant expression. Normally she would have told him to welcome Steve and his girlfriend, but not this time. She knew, he was up to start the game. Shortly she made sure, the children were in good hands with the other Avengers. After that she strode around the table again, was on the way to the other end of the room, but always kept her eyes glued to Tony. Bruce called Edward back, as he noticed the parents observing each other carefully. Wilfully Pepper used her hips more than usual while walking. She got a severe look from he partner. Inconspicuously she stroked over the beginning of her upper legs, which made Tony licking over his teeth impatiently. It took a few minutes of this behaviour, until she moved to the door and left the room slowly. Immediately Tony followed her. Arriving at the corridor, he looked to the right – nothing. As he wanted to check the other side, Pepper already grabbed his collar, pulled him around the corner, smashed him against the wall and kissed him vehemently. Softly Tony ran his fingers through her hair. Obviously she still has been angry: She grabbed his collar once more, but in a harder way and pulled him against the wall again. Stark wasn't able to deny, this didn't turn him on. Therefore he started to breathe more quickly. Both felt a tingling sensation on their lips. So, Tony thought, they had to go further. Fast. As fast as possible. When he lifted her up, she embraces his hips with her legs, didn't stop kissing and biting him. The moment Pepper attended to his neck, Tony groaned quietly. Every touch was just like magic. Suddenly they felt each other's body temperature go up extremely rapidly. Then Tony let his hands slid under Pepper's shirt and carried her towards their bedroom. In the meantime Pepper leaned back a bit and took of her shirt. Trembling with excitement she lost it just in front of the door, which was kicked shut by Stark, after they have entered the room.

'Wow, that was a short visit.'

Laughing Steve looked at his girlfriend and nipped from his glass. As they noticed, Pepper and Tony wouldn't return today, Steve decided to put the children to bed. Hand in hand he walked over the corridor, until he found Pepper's shirt lying on the ground. Softly he released Edward's hand and picked it up.

'Taking time for yourself isn't that bad, is it?', Tony asked quietly, looking at Pepper's naked arm lying on his chest.

Then she stopped stroking his neck and hit his upper arm with her fist, what made him laugh shortly. After a while both of them fell asleep. Beside sleeping Pepper recognised Tony was moaning, but she didn't wake up. By contrast to him. Tony jumped up and took a look around. Immediately he stood up and left the bedroom. He headed towards Edward's room and looked inside. Hammer's laugh, which has haunted him through the nightmare to his way towards his son's room, became quieter, when he saw Edward sleeping in his bed.

'Daddy?', he then heard from the next room.

Still thrilled Tony closed the door and ran to Mary. He tear open the door and looked into her tear-stained eyes.

'What's wrong, sweetheart?', he whispered, entered her room and closed the door slowly.

Before the light from the corridor disappeared completely, Mary turned on her bedside lamp.

'Nightmare...', the girl said in return with a shaking voice.

'Oh. I had one, too. Let me make a suggestion', Tony replied and pushed her to the side carefully, then lay down into her bed, wrapping his arms around her intensely, 'I'm going to protect you and you're going to protect me, all right? So nobody can do us any harm.'

Feeling comfortable again Mary nodded and closed her eyes.

The following morning Pepper opened the door quietly and found Tony lying in Mary's bed, legs over the edge, half under the blanket, slobbering on the pillow, on contrary Mary lying on his back, also half carpeted, slobbering on his shirt. Loving Pepper smiled and woke them up carefully.

'Get up, school is waiting. Tony, I'll bring her, then I'll be working, so would you fetch her today, please?'

'Mhmh...', Tony murmured, lifted his head and darted a sleepy glance at her.

During their gaze Mary slid from his fathers back, from the bed and shuffled into the bathroom.

'Don't forget it.'

With these words Pepper left the room again to collect Mary's food from the kitchen.

'Pepper!', Tony suddenly shouted, whereupon she turned back, 'How would you...How would you feel, being named Stark?'

Confused she looked at him, then stepped back towards Tony slowly, who stood up.

'I mean, what does it mean to you...referring me being plain with...us?'

'I don't know, where this is going, honey', she answered and smiled to calm him down, because she noticed he was nervous.

'It's...Virginia Pepper Stark, how does it sound to you?'

'Tony, are you trying to propose?', she meant clumsily.

He shrugged his shoulders.

'I don't know. I'd just like to know...'

'Let's talk about it later. I really need to go now...'

Being unwilling Pepper continued her way to the door. Suddenly Tony added:

'There's a secret!'

In that moment Pepper didn't know, if she should turn to him once more. She stared at the door.

'There's a place inside of my heart...There's a secret...If you want me to, I'll show it to you. Because you're the only thing, I've ever wanted. Pepper, I've got everything. I've seen so much. I've got to know many things. But I felt bad anyway. Because I was looking for something. And I found it in you. The only thing, I'm dreaming about is being with you', Tony became a little bit desperate, as Pepper still didn't react, 'I don't know, what I'm doing...'

This last sentence made her start to listen attentively. Steve's words about Tony's honesty came to her mind.

'I'm afraid of leaving...'

Since Tony lowered his head, he couldn't see Pepper come closer. She lay her hands onto his cheeks and lifted his head.

'You won't leave. I won't let you', she meant, as contrast with him, thinking about his former affairs.

He instead had that one sentence, the doctor in the hospital said to him, in his mind. This one sentence, which changed everything inside of him. Slowly she left the room, taking a last look at Tony, who smiled depressed. When she turned the corner, Tony turned to the window, bit on his hand and tried to hold back his tears. He didn't want Mary to see it. But especially Pepper hadn't to see this. That damn sentence. That god-aweful sentence...

'Sir, Mister Rogers entered the building. He is asking for you.'

Tony rushed into his bedroom and changed his clothes. Quickly he washed his face, then left the room again. Steve already sauntered through the corridor and was telephoning.

'Oh, look, there he is', he then said and gave his mobile phone to Tony.

'Uhm...Hello?'

'Hello, Tony.'

'Oh, what's up, Rhodey?'

'Was just calling my boss, then I thought about you. Because he told me, he was on his way to the Stark Tower. Why is your phone turned off?'

'Is that the only thing you know, to get in contact with me?', Tony laughed, 'By the way, isn't it sad, that you've been working for the army for years and Steve's already your superior?'

'Isn't it sad, that you've been the owner of Stark Industries, gave it to Pepper and now you're, well, let's face it, unemployed?'

Tony laughed again.

'Now: Why have you turned it off?', Rhodey repeated.

'There are...more important things, I need to concentrate on.'

'You don't even know, how right you are with this statement. I need to meet you today.'

'Have you listened to me? I haven't got the time to-'

'Take the time.'

Sighing Tony handed the phone back to Steve and meant:

'Tell him, I'll meet him in half an hour at the Shawarma Café.'

'I can still hear you, Tony!', Rhodes shouted.

Steve pressed the phone against his ear and meant:

'But he can't hear you. He disappeared in Edward's room.'

The boy was already jumping on his bed, when Tony came in. Grinning Tony jumped behind him and said:

'Let's have breakfast!'

Edward was so shocked, that he would have fallen down from the bed, if Tony hadn't grabbed his shirt before.

'Good morning!', the small one shouted back.

Gently Tony put him down from the bed, stepped down himself and responded:

'Good morning. Go and have a wash, change your clothes and let's go.'

He followed the orders, coming from his father, and returned ready to go out. The café, Tony wanted to go, wasn't too far, so he, Edward and Steve took a walk. They already saw Rhodey's car on the parking area.

'WAR MACHINE!', Edward shouted, won lose of Tony's hand and ran into the building.

As Tony and Steve entered and moved over to the table, Edward and Rhodey were sitting at, the colonel said:

'Fast food for breakfast? Ever heard of living a healthy life?'

'Nope. Guilty as charged', Stark replied and took a seat, so Steve did.

'I didn't expect you to take your son with you.'

'Well, it seems to be a parent-problem, that the kids are always around, you know...'

'Yes, I do. Nevertheless I didn-'

'Rhodey, just tell me, what's going on', Tony sighed and handed Edward a napkin, when he saw how the boy smeared his face and his hands with the ordered food.

'The nation needs you.'

'How come? I mean, you always tried to keep me out of that business.'

'Because you are smart.'

Tony laughed out loudly for a moment, then became quiet again, put on a neutral facial expression and replied:

'Thank you.'

'Take this seriously!', Rhodes nagged and looked around shortly, to make sure nobody's attention has been caught by Tony's laughter, 'We got the information, that Banner might be in danger. There's a group coming from a military background, which wants to destroy the Hulk.'

'Destroy the Hulk. I hope, you're able to point out the mistake on your own.'

'Nobody's able to destroy the Hulk!', Edward meant and looked up to Tony.

The father looked back, tousled his son's hair and grinned proudly.

'Eat up.'

Rhodey cleared his throat and continued:

'They've built a destruction-machine just for the Hulk. It's serious, Tony. And we might need you to care for security and to turn that thing off.'

'Hulk is strong enough to protect himself', Tony said in return and was about to stand up, when Edward pushed away his plate.

'The machine's concept is to suck in the strongest power, that's around', Steve added, 'It might kill Banner to lose the Hulk.'

'You'll pay for us, right?', Stark asked, emptied his cup of coffee, took Edward's hand and headed to the door.

'But you're remembering, Banner is located at the Stark Tower by now, aren't you?', Rhodey called.

Tony hasn't turned back, but anyhow he knew Rhodes was right. What if this group wanted to attack Banner, when he was still around? Next to his family. But he couldn't cast him adrift, could he?

'Stark!', Steve shouted.

But Tony still didn't look back. That sentence. Flying around in his head. That damn sentence, which spelled doom for him...

'Use your time for something worthy, as long, as you're able to...', he whispered to himself.

'Huh?', Edward meant and looked up.

Tony pressed his little hand more intensely, looked back and smiled depressed.

'Nothing of importance.'

Later when Steve returned to the Stark Tower, Tony sat in the living-room and turned on his phone again. He detected a list of missed calls from Rhodey and Rogers.

'You haven't understood, what we were telling you, have you!?', the soldier shouted.

A few miles away Pepper answered an incoming phone-call.

'Hey, baby. Pardon? Again!? Mary, calm down. Don't cry. I'm going to be there in a few minutes.'

Angrily she hanged up and immediately called Tony.

'Hey, hon. I'm sorry, I'm a little busy.'

'So busy, you've forgotten to fetch your daughter again?'

'Fuck...Oh, I'm sorry, but I really-'
'I don't want to hear it. I'm going to fetch her myself. Again!'

She put her phone into her pocket and left the company's building.

Tony put together the information about that group, Rhodey has been talking about.

Pepper entered her car and drove to Mary's school aggressively.

Stark checked up his main-suit. Gently he took off the cloth bandage, when Steve came in.

'Banner's ready. We need to hide him anywhere. Got any idea?'

'Not yet', Tony responded and heaved Edward from the chair on front of the screens and put him down.

Then he took another look at the list.

'I haven't finished!', Edward yelled.

So stressed he was, Tony quickly turned to him and shouted:

'Get the fuck out of here! I don't need you standing behind me!'

Shocked the boy stepped back.

Pepper tried to calm down Mary, when she was carrying her to the car. The girl wept bitterly. Both of them were full of anger and disappointment.

'Fury will send us more agents', Clint let Steve know in the conference-room.

'He wants us to turn on the television', Natasha yelled, when she came in and hanged up her phone.

Tony was right behind her and ordered J.A.R.V.I.S to turn it on. The television, coming out of a wall, turned itself on. They watched a blond guy with glasses standing in front of the camera, saying:

'Doctor Banner, we really need you to stop all this. Can't you see, you're a danger to the world? We'll wait a few minutes, before we'll turn on the machine, that's going to kill the Hulk', Steve saw Tony shaking his head from the corner of his eye.

A gigantic crane behind the man was lifted up. It carried a platform, on which an engineering facility was placed.

'You still don't believe it, Stark?', Steve asked and turned his head to Tony.

'It's near by the tower. Where's Edward?'

Natasha widened her eyes and watched Tony leaving the room. After he has sent the boy to Natasha and told him, to stay close to her, until he returned, Stark used the elevator to get down. Suddenly the camera turned around and showed Tony, exiting the tower.

'Anthony Stark! Where's your friend? Won't he give up?'

'What's you name?', Tony asked.

'What is he doing?', Barton asked Steve and stared at the TV.

'Where is Banner!?', the man repeated.

'You're reminding me of someone, I've beaten up once right here. Who are you?'

'You don't need to know. Watch this!'

'He really messed up with me, so...', Tony looked up, when he heard the sound of a blast, '...You better watch your...', he scrutinized the crane, on whose platform a mechanical device, caged in a safety fence, was moved up, '...next step. Great, too late.'

The snipers and soldiers in tanks, located on the streets, got ready.

'Suit up, guys', Steve said, when J.A.R.V.I.S approved the order to send out Mark 42.

'How did they get here so fast, without anybody noticing? Fury would have-'

'Suit up!'

Rogers ran out of the room and searched for Bruce.

'I don't care about anyone, who dies. I'm willing to pay the price of some lives, when I can rescue the world', the Justin-Hammer-cobycat meant.

The happenings rushed, Tony was only trying to push the memories of Hammer to the back of his mind. Again and again he saw the woman, holding her dead son in her arms. She turned to Pepper, the boy turned to Edward. Then the boy transformed into a girl looking like Mary. Then the image changed again to the real former situation: that strange woman, holding her dead son. His heart started to pound inside of his head. He felt swamped, but tried to get his head clear, when the suit parts girdled his body.

'J.A.R.V.I.S, call Pepper. She should stay, wherever she is.'

'Yes, Sir.'

'Incoming call from Tony', a computer-voice told Pepper, who was on the way home.

'Fuck you', she whispered and turned off the phone.

'Iron Man in action? Well...', the man standing in front of Stark said unimpressed.

Helicopters arrived. They aimed for Stark and waited for the order to shoot.

'Mum?', Mary asked carefully, when she noticed, they were passing many distraught people.

'Not for the moment, honey.'

'Captain, there are snipers on nearly every building's roof around the tower. How is Banner going?'

'I hear you, Stark. Hawkeye, take care about that. Banner is okay, yet. I told him to stay in the laboratory.'

When Steve finally came out, he looked at the enemies, surrounding the whole tower already.

'What should I do?', Iron Man asked and turned his head to the super-soldier.

'These are ordinary people on the wrong way. Try not to kill them.'

Just the moment Steve finished his sentence, the leader of the enemies ordered a tank to shoot an ordinary apartment building. Stunned Rogers stared at the building, which was collapsing.

'Ordinary people, huh?', Stark replied and flew up.

'GET OUT OF YOUR STASH, BANNER!'

'Mummy?', Mary said once more, when both of them saw S.H.I.E.L.D-agents passing them in their cars with a high speed.

'Tony...?', Pepper whispered a little bit shocked.

Then she put her foot down, so Mary was pressed into the seat.

'Captain, this is a problem! There are too many of them! And there's no Hulk, who could help us out. What should we do!?', Clint asked, while he was shooting down some snipers with ease.

'There comes the cavalry', Steve said to himself, when he saw the S.H.I.E.L.D-agents, including Nick Fury, advancing.

'Call back your soldiers, Sir!', he shouted toward the wannabe Hammer, 'We must come to an amicable solution!'

'We must?', the man asked and let another tank shoot a building.

'Now it's over', Tony screamed and shot exactly that tank with the repulsor on his chest.

Protecting themselves against the explosion, Steve and Fury hid behind a car.

'This looks pretty familiar to me, Rogers', the director of S.H.I.E.L.D mentioned.

Upon his attack, the helicopters began to shot Iron Man. This was flung through the air.

'You endanger all these people, can't you see that!?', Steve yelled to the man, who was looking for protection now himself and ran to another tank.

'You endanger the world, by protecting Banner!', he yelled back.

'Apropos protection', Fury meant and pointed at Stark, which still tried to avoid the shots coming from all sides, 'He won't make it long this way.'

Just in time before one of the tanks hit Iron Man, a unmistakable sound filled the area. With a big bang, Thor, Sif, Fandral, Volstagg and Loki appeared in front of the Stark Tower. As Steve looked up, after he was pushed away by the blast, he saw Thor holding his hand towards him.

'Aren't you able to keep peace just for a few years?', the god said and helped him up.

Steve grinned a bit and replied:

'It has been a few years...'

'Could you hold your hen party over!?', Steve heard Tony yelling, 'Cuz I could need some support here!'

Shortly Steve nodded to Thor's friends and meant:

'Thor, Stark needs your help up there. The others might be a great help down here to protect the tower itself and the civilians on the streets.'

The moment Thor used Mjölnir to get up to a roof, Edward ran out of the tower and screamed:

'THUNDERMAN!'

'What the...', Steve replied, 'Where's Natasha?!'

The agent arrived outside and answered:

'I'm sorry, he was too quick.'

Edward's eyes began to shine, when he saw Iron Man flying around the houses, hiding from the shots, and Thor kicking some snipers from the roofs, then concentrating on the helicopters. Before Fury could get on his feet again, Edward stole his walkie-talkie and spoke into it:

'Dad, there are going to activate dis machine.'

Totally confused Tony stopped in the air and looked down.

'Don't look at me, look at that machine! In that information has been said, it would destroy anything with the greatest power nearby. If it isn't the Hulk, what will it be then?'

'The city's power supply...', Tony quietly replied.

Unbelieving Steve stared at the boy, who looked up to the crane. The mechanical device moved up a bit once more and showed up some kind of cannon. At least to Edward it looked like a cannon. The barrel of the cannon contained a vortex out of energy, which could only be seen by Tony, who stood at the same highness. Thor's friends tried to retain the arriving soldiers. The same time Pepper arrived at the tower. She and Mary jumped out of the car. Whereas Pepper was looking for Edward and Tony, Mary immediately raised her head and checked up the situation. The more helicopters Thor was destroying, the more came from all sides.

'There has to be a nest anywhere!', he yelled down, so the others could hear him.

While smashing the soldiers' heads in, Volstagg laughed loudly about Thor's comment.

'Tony!?', Pepper screamed.

'Miss Potts, get away from here!', Steve responded.

Suddenly Mary ran towards them. She has detected her brother, so there was not way, she would stay beyond.

'Mary!', Pepper screamed once again and tried to follow her daughter, who was jumping over S.H.I.E.L.D's barriers. Quickly she ripped the walkie-talkie out of Edward's hands.

'Daddy, behind you!'

Shocked Tony turned around. Not because of the warning, but because he heard his daughter speak to him. He looked down and saw Mary holding Fury's walkie-talkie. Behind him he detected a group of soldiers aiming for him. Before those had been able to shoot, Tony shot himself to put them out of commission.

'What else have you got?', he asked, whereupon Mary looked around attentively.

'You'll have to destroy the machine. There's no other way to safe our green friend! It is collecting power for its purpose!', Edwards let him know again.

Unbelieving both, Fury and Steve, stared at the children for a moment, then changed their glances to the air again, where Tony was trying to destroy the machine with the repulsor on his chest. The charged cage around the machine dashed back Stark's attack and hit him hardly.

'Not this way!', Mary shouted, whereon Tony recovered himself.

Suddenly they heard a loud roar, coming from inside the tower.

'Finally...', the leader said to his soldiers and left the tank again.

He made quick moves to get to the machine. He insisted to see the Hulk's death at close range. He got, what he wanted: Hulk hasted out of the tower, ran towards him and smashed the man against the crane. Surprisingly Hulk noted, that the crane hasn't been damaged at all.

'Hulk! Get away there!', Steve shouted, when Hulk tried to overturn the crane with the dead body, he was holding in his hand, once again.

The soldiers on the streets and in the helicopters concentrated on the Hulk now. There their target was. They shot him, whereupon the other Asgardians tried to surround the monster.

'Dad, can you see the trap-door in that cage? You can reach the device, if you take the way from the platform, through the trap!', Stark's son explained, 'You have to do it now! Other wise...'

The only way to get in there was to put down the suit and climb. Iron Man himself wouldn't fit through, but Tony would.

'J.A.R.V.I.S, activate my boys. I need protection', Tony ordered, after he has seen the others defending the Hulk and the civilians on the streets.

'It would be my pleasure, Sir.'

Therefore Tony landed on a platform beneath the machine and jumped out of the suit, which closed itself again and flew up.

'I need concentration, take orders from the small ones. They're doing a good job', Tony mentioned and appealed to Steve, 'Could need someone to break this trap over here!'

Rogers lifted his head, took a more exact look at the metal-trap, Tony was talking about, and meant:

'Get out of the way!'

Tony jumped to the side, whereupon Steve threw his shield. It hit the trap and flew back to its owner. Proudly, but seriously, Steve scrutinized his work and turned to the enemies again. Climbing through the trap, Tony found himself in front of the control panel.

'Then let's have a look...', he said to himself, 'How can I just turn you off? J.A.R.V.I.S, could you give me some information about the-'

'My abilities are limited, Sir', the computer, which was controlling forty-two suits to protect Stark from any bullets or bombs, replied.

'Hurry uuup!', Mary and Edward yelled at the same time.

Fury ripped the walkie-talkie out of Mary's hands and asked:

'Stark, do you know, what you're doing there?'

'Actually not...', Tony responded and laughed ironically, 'Give it back to them.'

Again unbelieving Fury handed the walkie-talkie to Mary, without looking at her.

'Mary?', Tony asked and stared at the panel's screens.

'Daddy?', she replied.

'I'll never forgive myself, that I haven't hugged you this morning, before you left. I'm sorry for everything, I've done wrong on you two...'

Confused Steve looked at Fury shortly, who seemed to understand, where Tony was going to. The director lowered his head and listened to Stark's voice.

'I'll have to protect everything, I love, did you hear me?'

Also confused the children looked at each other.

'So care about Pepper...and each other.'

With these words Tony pushed a button on the panel, whereupon the cannon was directed towards the scientist.

'It's too late to turn it off, Eddie...', he added, lowered his head, grinned depressed and squint his eyes, whereon tears ran down his cheeks.

'No, you'll have to-', Edward started, but suddenly the machine made a loud noise.

Both, soldiers and Avengers and their support, stopped fighting and looked up to the platform. As Tony looked down on his chest, because he was feeling strange, he saw the energy of the arc-reactor disappearing into the cannon's barrel. It just made a loud thud. The second, Tony felt safe again, the arc-reactor's light went out. A sudden blast from the cannon hurled him against the cage, which wasn't under electric-protection anymore, because the machine needed every energy, it could get.

Slowly the crane collapsed, after the cannon has handled the reactor's energy.

Use your time for something worthy, Tony thought, before he felt a stitch in his chest.

'Thor! Hulk! Anyone, get him down there!', Steve screamed then.

Immediately Thor and Hulk jumped towards the platform. Hulk destroyed the cage, Thor collected Tony, then they jumped down again. The S.H.I.E.L.D-agents used the distraction to immobilise the hostile soldiers. Carefully Thor put Tony down on the ground and looked at him. Steve and Pepper ran over, whereas Natasha knelt down and took the children into her arms. The Hulk roared loudly, apparently grinning, because it worked the first time. But not this time. Once more Hulk roared.

Pepper lay her hand under Tony's head and started crying. Captain America lowered his head and closed his eyes. Thor stared desperately at the father. Confused Hulk roared again.

'HULK, STOP!', Steve shouted, with all the power he could get into his voice, and looked angrily at the creature, which stepped back nearly shocked, 'It's over!'

'No. Tony...Tony, wake up...', Pepper sobbed, 'Please...Open your eyes...Tony, don't leave!'

Carefully Mary tried to look at her father. Quietly she asked:

'Daddy...?'

Edward on the other hand was changing glances between his sister, who started crying slowly, and Pepper, who leaned down and gave Tony a last soft kiss on his lips. He actually didn't understand, what was happening. It hasn't been the first time his father was lying on the ground, not moving, with his eyes shut. But anything seemed to be different this time. His dad looked a little bit unlikely. Suddenly Mary began to scream and cried even more. She stared at Tony's wrist, around which he was wearing the blue cloth bandage, she has tied round the suit's wrist before. Tenderly Natasha stroke over her head, stood up and lifted both kids on her arms. Wordless she went into the tower.

'Miss Potts...?', Fury carefully asked and watched the woman caressing pulling Tony's hair back again and again, 'We need to carry him away from where now...I am so sorry...'

Shortly Pepper rubbed her eyes and stood up. Her deeply saddened face changed to a concerned, but severe expression. Without any word she entered the Stark Tower.

'Just like a warrior', Fandral mentioned.

'Both of them were...', Thor replied, whereupon Sif lay her hand on his shoulder.

While many reporters stormed over the debris, Fury observed some of his agents taking away the dead bodies, including Stark's.

Later he met Hawkeye, Black Widow, Thor and the other gods and Captain America in the conference-room of the tower.

'I've talked to Miss Potts. She's caring about the girl. She can't stop crying.'

'Tell us anything useful...', Steve replied ungratefully.

'Before he was fetched from the hospital, he called me...'

Natasha raised her head slowly and stared at the director.

'He wanted me to know, he only had some days left. The electromagnet in his chest only defered his death. Therefore, when that fucked up machine sucked in the reactor's energy, the blast pushed the splinters into the cardiac septum...They have been saying, it would be too late to take the splinters out already. He should have cared about it earlier. It would have been to risky already...'

Angrily Steve turned from the window to Fury and shouted:

'Why hasn't he done it earlier then!?'

'An operation is risky anyway. He was afraid, he could die, during that. Additionally he had to care about his family. He has told me, his kids were the reason, he hadn't got time to care about the problem in his heart...'

'I just don't understand w-'

'Are you mad about him?', Thor asked wondering.

'By the way: What is your freaking brother doing here!?', Steve replied, getting louder.

'Calm down. He has paid the price for his offence. He was a great help to get here...'

Not knowing, what to do with himself, his anger and sadness, Steve kicked a chair and left the room.

'Where is Banner?', Fury meant and looked around.

'A while ago he has been here. Then he retreated from all...of this.'

On the corridor, Steve pressed his forehead against the wall, squint his eyes and whispered:

'Tony...'

'What are you doing?', he suddenly heard somebody say.

When he turned his head he looked in a well-known face. Stark's grin.

'Tony...?', he repeated and took a more exactly look.

Confused Edward lay his head on his own shoulder and replied:

'Huh?'

Disappointed Steve turned away. Then he knelt down and opened his arms, so Edward ran over, pressed himself against the soldier and cuddle him gently.

'Are you okay?', Steve whispered and stroked over the small one's head.

'Yap.'

'Okay...', Steve answered and held back his tears.

Late in the night Pepper slowly left Mary's room. In between she made sure, Edward was okay and would go to bed, but when she passed his room-door, she heard him say:

'I knew it! Yap, I',ll do it! Oh...okay. Our little secret, gotcha!'

Carefully she opened the door and looked inside. Edward stopped jumping on his bed, let himself fall down and disappeared under the blanket.

'I love you...', she whispered and closed the door quietly.

'We love you, too', the boy whispered back, but she couldn't hear him.

Wordless she passed Steve, who used the intercom.

'Good night, Doctor Banner', he meant and took a short look at Pepper.

After she has turned the corner, Steve suddenly heard a silent voice:

'Finally got it? How to...use those things?'

As he turned around quickly, he found himself standing alone on the corridor.

Downstairs Bruce was sitting in the shop. He has been hoping to find Stark sitting on his chair, puzzling over something. But he hasn't been there. A short moment Bruce suddenly felt a hand laying on his shoulder. When he turned his head, he could have sworn to smell Tony's scent.

Thor was walking up and down in the living-room, when he heard:

'Bored? There's still beer in the fridge, my friend. Take what you want!'

Confused he rushed around and looked into Loki's also confused eyes.

'What is it, brother?'

'No...Nothing.'

Pressing her face into the wet pillow, Mary remembered better times. Times, when her dad has taken walks with them. When he laughed with them. When he spent warmness to them. When he was playing with them. When he was shouting at her and immediately apologised, as she started crying. When he ran through the tower, searching her and Edward, shouting:

'Cuddle-time, where are my babies!?'

When she was younger and he threw her up into the air to show her how it feels to be Iron Man. She also remembered that happy expression on his face, when she has been smiling at him. When she laughed about him. When she and Edward played tricks on him. When he had got nightmares, came to her bed and begged for protection. The times, when he freaked out subtly, if anyone in school was angering her or her brother. That loving voice, when he was trying to make her sleep. Be it reading a story from her books or gently stroking over her skin and through her hair.

She laughed snivelling to herself, as she remembered him kneeling in front of her, saying:

'Give me a smooch', because in return she pressed her palm on his mouth and looked into that invaluable ridiculous face.

Slowly she closed her eyes then, because they started it hurt. Having all these images of her father in her mind, she suddenly felt warmness around her body. A strong arm pressed her against...she looked up and couldn't believe it...her father's body. Lovely the man looked back and smiled. Mary took a deep breath, but Tony lay one finger over her mouth and meant:

'Hush...'

They remained cuddling for a while, until he said:

'I'm sorry, sweetheart...But I got to go...Always remember now you have to protect, what's most important to me...I love you, my dear...Mary. Keep me inside of your heart...'

As she opened her eyes, he disappeared. Immediately she jumped out of the bed and ran out. She continued her way to the elevator. She has been to excited to wait for it, so she ran down the stair and entered the shop. Shocked Banner turned his head to her. But she didn't seem to recognise him anyway. Slowly she walked over to the remained suits and stopped in front of them. Bruce could literally observe her brave heart growing. Later she returned to her room.

At this moment Pepper already was sleeping. It took a while, until she could fall asleep, but she made it. Suddenly she felt a tickle in her nose. She opened her eyes and jumped up. She found herself lying on a blanket in the grass. Then she heard the children laughing. As she looked further, she detected them playing in a lake nearby the grassland, she was lying on.

'What's wrong?'

Slowly she turned her head to the side and stared at Tony, who sat up and took down his sunglasses.

'Where am I...', she asked back, when she saw Thor and Jane lying next to them, Bruce sitting next to Steve and watching him drawing the splashing children, Clint and Natasha walked over hand in hand slowly.

Tony wrapped his arms around her and tear her down on the blanket again. It felt so real to her. His touches. His voice sounded real. Loving he stroked over her arm and meant:

'The secret place...'

Afraid of waking up, Pepper decided not to question.

'I really fucked it up this time, didn't I, my dear?', he asked quietly.

This made Pepper wake up the next morning. Waiting for Pepper, Rhodey sat in the lobby and watched Loki, who was standing in a corridor and said:

'Ready?'

'Thank you...'

James stood up and took a more exactly look, when he heard a voice, he has known for a long time. The god turned around and looked back silently. Rhodey shook his head and continued waiting.

As Fury has organised the funeral, Pepper only had to care about her children to get ready. Later they met at the cemetery. Clouds covered the sky, lying a depressing mood on the attendees. The director of S.H.I.E.L.D delivered a speech, Pepper wasn't really able to follow. She started crying again. Edward looked at his mother. Suddenly he realised, what was happening. Seeing his mother cry, made himself cry as well. Now he understood, his father wouldn't come back anymore. The only one, who smiled, by hearing Fury's words about a never dying hero, was Mary...

At the end of the speech, the gods stood in front of the coffin and started singing an impressive song in an old Asgardian language, they used to sing, to say good bye to great warriors. As Thor had to bit on his lip, avoiding to cry, Loki took his singing-part. When Odinson calmed down a little, he finished the song with his deep voice...

A few minutes of silence filled the area, until Fury meant:

'Let's come to his last wish...'

Agent Maria Hill pushed a button to start the audio equipment. Unbelieving the attendees lifted their heads and stared at each other, when they heard the song 'Highway to hell' by ACDC.

'Seriously?', Steve laughed a bit and wiped his nose.

'It's Stark, what did you expect?', Barton answered laughing.

Back at the Stark Tower all the attendees sat together, talking, drinking coffee. Thor walked over to the fridge and took out a bottle of beer.

'Thor?', Natasha wondered, 'What are you doing?'

'Well...', Thor started, 'Last night, when I was walking around, I heard Stark saying, there was beer for me in the fridge and I could take all I wanted.'

'Huh...Funny.', Clint meant, 'I dreamt of him, coming to me...And he told me to take care of Tasha, because a woman like her in a man's life, would be the most important thing...'

'He has told me the same on you', Natasha responded.

'Ha ha...'

Clint lowered his head, but Romanoff started laughing.

'No, seriously! He exactly said that and broke out in laughter.'

'Funny, that you mentioned that', Steve brought up, 'When I was saying good night to Banner, I heard his voice...Well, at least I was sure, it was him. He made jokes about me, using the intercom...'

Attentively Pepper raised her head and looked at the Avengers.

'Down in the shop...', Bruce then started, 'I was thinking about the...the happenings and suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder. And I was sure to smell Tony's scent, although nobody else has been there...'

Loki turned away from the others, but continued listening. Pepper addressed her son:

'What secret?'

'Huh?', the boy answered and looked on the ground.

'Which secret have you been talking about tonight?'

'I haven't got a secret...Maybe a little bit more, but I don't know about the secret, you're talking about!'

Wordless the adults stared at the child, until Mary mentioned:

'A hero never dies.'

Simultaneously the children lifted their arms and formed the sign of peace with their hands.

Time went by. One day Steve Rogers returned to Stark Tower. He met Miss Potts, who just came home from work, and asked:

'Where's Stark?'

'Should be up on the party-deck. Still loves great performances', she meant, smiled and entered the elevator.

Silently Steve stood next to her and watched the elevator driving up. She left the elevator one storey beneath the party-deck and dismissed. Leaving the elevator one step further, Steve already detected a young, brown-haired man standing before the high windows, looking out. The soldier stopped next to him. Edward turned his head a bit, smiled, then looked out again.

'Finally mine are working, too.'

'Heard about it', Steve responded and spotted Iron Man flying across the high buildings of New York.

As the armour landed on the outside platform, the gripper arms moved out of the bottom and escorted the suit's pilot inside, while taking off the suit-parts. Arrogantly Mary took a short look at Steve, then headed to the elevator, saying:

'Captain', nodding to him.

'Stark', Steve said in return to her detached...